In short: rather challenging scenic runIn full: Really loved this race. It was tough but I love multi terrain races. There were a few hills, I am pleased to say I managed to run not walk all of them (these hillwork sessions have definitely paid off). Definitely the most encouraging marshalls and it seems that half the village trurned at the beginning of the race, lots of encouragement. Pleased with goody bag and Terminator tee shirt although feel like a cheat as never actually did that race (but will do next year). Fantastic home made cakes, my children have gobbled them up in seconds, will do it again, for sure. Date of review: April 25, 2010

In short: Great race!In full: This was a lovely race, well organised and a nice big space for everyone to start without any faf. However, "momento" must be removed from the site as this was a bit disapointing when we were told on the startline there wasnt one. But fair play for putting all the money towards charity (: The changing facilities and toilets were good and didnt que once which makes a change from some places!!! The cakes would have persuaded us to drive from Bristol regardless of the race, very nice. Very Very VERY hot day, sunburnt and all...+ i think it would of been an idea for organisers to have been prepared to put in another drinks station, especially as the amount of water we were given was minimul...especially in the heat. The long country roads made it feel like it was longer than 10k, especially as it was all hedges eitherside. Overall...6-7/10 but would do it again (:Date of review: May 26, 2009

In short: A great way to spend a sunday morningIn full: Thanks to all at the PVRC this was a great 10k through some quite country lanes. Course was well marked and well marshalled with some of the marshals calling out your time as you went past - nice touch. As mentioned before we dont all need a t-shirt or medal to let us know when we have just run an enjoyable small club race! Well done PVRC for concentrating on a local charity. Date of review: May 25, 2009

In short: Nice run, but the hot day turned this into a bit of a challenge.In full: My daughter was looking for a late-May 10k to follow up her debut in Bristol two weeks earlier and she found this one on the Runner’s World website. We read the reviews from previous years and learned that this was a pretty flat course, that there would be a fantastic spread of homemade cakes and that there was some disappointment at the lack of the advertised memento in 2008. So, how accurate were the reviews?

To find out, we first had to get our entries in. I found the PVRC website less than helpful. On the “Pewsey Vale 10k” page, the date was shown and beneath it was the rubric “Entry Form not yet available”. (In fact, this is still the case on the day after the actual race day!). Never mind, there was a separate page for “Entry Forms”. I clicked onto this and it said “We can now accept entry fees over the web” with a link to the Runner’s World website. “Great”, I thought and followed the link. There was no online entry possible! Someone had forgotten to tell Runner’s World, perhaps? Eventually, I found a photostat of the entry form on the PVRC site, managed to print a couple out in the right size and sent them off by post. Everything worked fine from here on, with numbers coming back within five working days, but what a palaver! It was almost as if they were keen to make it difficult for runners to enter! I wondered how many entries there would be.

Apart from the website, which was definitely well below standard, how was the pre-race organisation? Very good. The school HQ was excellent with lots of on-site parking, good changing facilities and plenty of space for the various stands. We even had a sneak preview of the cakes being laid out. (And they covered many square feet of counter top – this looked promising!). The atmosphere was good and everyone was relaxed. Clear signage everywhere and friendly marshals and officials.

About five minutes before the start, we were led out to the start line in a field behind the school. It was turning out to be a warm day, so I was pleased that the course was billed as flat. On the start line, we were given some clear “housekeeping” rules, as we would be running on open roads, and were also told that, because the event was principally a charity fundraiser, there would be no memento. What?!! But lots of people had commented on this very issue in 2008. How could they be doing this again? It stated clearly on the Pewsey website and on the Runner’s World info that there would be a memento. Why? I’m all in favour of maximising the proceeds going to charity and it would be churlish to complain, but this is such an easily avoided problem. So, PVRC, please, in 2010, whatever else you do, DON’T MENTION THE MEMENTO!

Off we went! The first kilometre was steadily downhill. Great! The second and third felt as if they were downhill too, but this was just an optical illusion of some sort. The course was pretty flat (with the exception of a solitary bridge at about 3k and again at 7k. The real challenge was the heat. There was some shade from roadside trees, but a lot more sun. An earlier start than 11.00am may be worth considering, but I think that we were unlucky that this was an unexpectedly hot day. Then came the payback for that fast first kilometre – a gentle but persistent pull uphill towards the finish. Excellent support over the last 400 metres and through the finish. Officials scribbling earnestly on clipboards, which was reassuring (as this is not a chip-timed event), and a lady handed me a Mars Bar!

The general consensus was that the heat had added a couple of minutes to most people’s target times. The final gradient would not really have been noticeable in cooler weather, so I am happy to confirm that this is a pretty flat course! I jogged back to see my daughter striding for home – second female finisher!! Excellent!!

And so to the cakes. Yes, well worth the trip! Our group all went back for seconds, so I hope that this helped a little in increasing the proceeds going to the local Pathfinders charity.

In summary, a very nice race with a couple of snags that could ever-so-easily be overcome.

In short: Really well organised and friendlyIn full: This is a good race to do. It's well organised and very friendly. The course is well marked and takes you around the lanes outside Pewsey. Good job Pewsey Vale Running Club!Date of review: May 24, 2009

In short: Not as hilly as people told me!In full: A lovely race, my first ever where I didnt have to queue for the toilets! Not as hilly as I has been led to believe but the hill in the last km wasn't very nice and did manage to slow me down, overall a very nice race, well worth the trip! Managed to get a new pb so cant complain about that! Date of review: May 24, 2009